Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

POUTHEE. 363
was one of perpetual warfare, and that there could have
been no want of means under a system so military and
so feudal.
On the day of this expedition, the sea was one broad
and placid mirror. Not a breeze ruffled the surface, the
sun-beams gleamed brig^ht on the green expanse, and
the gentlest of waves murmured along the shores, like the
rippling stream of a spring day among flowery banks
and green meadows. Halcyons might have built their
nests on the sleeping waters, had there been any halcyons
given to these vagaries. But no one that has read Ho-
race, is credulous enough to expect that the sea will
always be bright, that the winds will always sleep, and
the waves be content with murmuring. To be always
provided for the worst event, is a maxim that will not be
wanted any where much oftener than in this land of
storms, which, when it smiles, smiles but to deceive.
The following day had risen bright and still as the pre-
ceding-, and had tempted us to embark in our smallest
boat. But we had scarcely rowed a mile on our voyage
to Portree, when it began to blow; and, in a few minutes,
the clouds were seen collecting over the high lands of
Sky, boding no good. Having no ballast, we pulled
toward the island, in hopes of procuring some; but we
found it impossible to land, as the sea had risen with
uncommon rapidity, and was breaking wildly all along
this iron coast. It then became necessary to try to fetch
the cutter, as it was now blowing a strong gale of wind.
But we could make no way ahead with the oars, a heavy
swell carrying us to the northward ; so that there was
much danger of our being forced away to sea, in which
case we should have taken an eternal farewell of Sky
and all its islands. The cutter could no longer see us,
owing to the high and hollow sea that was now breaking
with great violence ;
and accordingly we saw her dodg-